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Re: Who supports the 17th amendment

Originally Posted by ttwtt78640

Well, if it makes no difference (to you) then why not simply skip the expense and remove the Senate entirely?

The idea was to give even smaller (based on population) states a chance to matter as much as larger states. Obviously, if any state votes both yes and no on a given issue then they may as well have had their Senators just stay home.

Such as both GOP Senators in Iowa, Nebraska and Arizona voting against Harvey relief because Ryan and McConnell tied it to the debt ceiling ...

Re: Who supports the 17th amendment

Because the way our system of elections work, only 1/3 of the senate is up for reelection every election year, while the entire house is up for election every 2 years.

What we actually need is 3-year terms for the House so they can get something done during the middle year. And a one-term limit of 6-years for the POTUS. Perfect common denominator with 3 less elections every twelve years ...

Re: Who supports the 17th amendment

Such as both GOP Senators in Iowa, Nebraska and Arizona voting against Harvey relief because Ryan and McConnell tied it to the debt ceiling ...

Ah yes, the old "I have principles so long as I know that they won't affect the outcome or shutdown the almighty government" way of voting.

“The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the unreasonable one persists to adapt the world to himself.
Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man.” ― George Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman

Re: Who supports the 17th amendment

Years ago, if I remember this correctly, this was a John Birch Society issue. For them, the closer the US was to a "republic" as opposed to a "democracy" the better. Met with a Bircher once and had a long conversation. He believed that only property owners should be allowed to vote. As I understand it, his views represented an anti-democratic pro republican (principles, not parties) strain in US politics that is longstanding. Mark Levin includes repeal of 17 as part of his Liberty Amendments. He also wants Congressional term limits, which also limits the power of voters.

There has always been a "restrict the franchise" movement as part of conservative. The Senate, which gives more power (12 Senators) to several states with less than one million citizens with less total population than New York City which has no Senator. Other manifestations include voter ID laws, which sprung up shortly after the Supremes said that the Voting Rights Act was obsolete, the historic opposition to "one man one vote" principles.

In my cynical view, having state legislatures select Senators gives more power to business interests who are more easily able to influence them. In response, the poor and disenfranchised have tended to look to Washington where they can more easily exercise their power.